Walk And Dine Among Masterpieces At The Pt. Leo Estate
Mornington Peninsula’s must-visit destination for art, wine, gastronomy, and scenic beauty.
There’s nothing quite like the Mornington Peninsula. Just an hour from Melbourne, this scenic corner stands as one of Victoria’s most culturally rich regions, framed by calm bay waters and dramatic ocean breaks, with no shortage of pleasures in between. It’s a destination where art, wine, gastronomy and nature aren’t occasional highlights but intrinsic to daily life. And, remarkably, what if I told you that you could experience all of it on a sprawling 330-acre property tucked away on the Peninsula’s Western Port side?
Winding past the vine-draped driveway, a large-scale Grand Arch sculpture by German-Australian sculptor Inge King comes into view, alongside a towering 70-year-old Queensland King Bottle tree. Beyond its doorway, Pt. Leo Estate beckons, offering a glimpse of what lies ahead. Owned by Australian property magnate John Gandel and his family—who built their fortune through Chadstone, the Southern Hemisphere’s largest shopping centre with more than 500 stores in Melbourne—Pt. Leo was originally purchased as a pastoral escape. Decades later, in 2017, the estate opened to the public, welcoming visitors to an unparalleled convergence of art, wine and fine dining.
From the moment you step onto the estate, the visual spectacle is unrelenting, and dining here becomes a sensory complement. Guests can linger over a leisurely meal at Laura, revelling in a fine-dining experience that showcases seasonal produce, while The Pt. Leo Estate Restaurant offers fresh dishes prepared over a wood-fired grill. Just past the Cellar Door, the Wine Terrace provides a casual, alfresco setting serving light meals.
Above all, it’s the Sculpture Park that leaves visitors spellbound, boasting more than 70 monumental works by renowned international and Australian artists—from KAWS and Yayoi Kusama to George Rickey, Tony Cragg, Boaz Vaadia and Bruce Armstrong (to name just a few). Each piece is accompanied by a plaque detailing the artist’s career and the work’s significance, allowing for a rich, informed experience while wandering through this open-air gallery.
For more information, visit Pt. Leo Estate’s official website.
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